MTN final

Cape Town City and SuperSport United will renew their growing rivalry when they go head-to-head in the 2017 MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.

Kick-off is at 7:00pm CAT, live on SS4 and live streaming on DStv Now.

The Citizens will be aiming to to secure a second title in two seasons, having clinched the 2016 Telkom Knockout crown in their maiden campaign.

The club from the Mother City have made a major impact in a short period of time, and booked their place in a first MTN8 final with wins over Polokwane City [1-0] and defending champions Bidvest Wits [3-1 on aggregate] respectively.

SuperSport United sealed their place in a third domestic cup final in succession with a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the quarterfinals, followed by a 3-1 aggregate victory over Maritzburg United.

Eric Tinkler – who spearheaded CTC to Telkom Knockout glory over the very same Matsatsantsa last year – will be aiming to achieve immediate success in Tshwane, and subsequently get one over his former employers.

As for opposite number Benni McCarthy, victory will secure a first title as head coach for the former Bafana Bafana star.

Matsatsantsa have won the MTN8/Top Eight Cup once – 2004 – and this will be their fifth appearance in the final. Their last appearance in the MTN8 final was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Moroka Swallows in 2012, while they were also runners-up in 2005 and 2006.

On head-to-head terms, City and United have met only three times, but on all three occasions the game proved an appetising encounter.

City claimed victory in the most high profile clash between the two sides thus far, a 2-1 win over their counterparts at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, in the 2016 TKO showpiece. Goals from Aubrey Ngoma and Judas Moseamedi earned the club silverware.

The teams have also crossed swords in two league matches, both of which took place in the 2016-17 Absa Premiership season. City’s home game in the Mother City ended in a 1-1 draw, while the return game in Tshwane was won 4-2 by Matsatsanta.

PREDICTED STARTING XI

Cape Town City: Stephens; Mkhize, Johannes, Fielies, Seedat – Putsche, Matsi, Nodada – Patosi, Lakay, Majoro.

SuperSport United: Williams; Kekana, Gould, Daniels, Ritchie – Letsholonyane, Mokoena, Modiba – Phala, Grobler, Brockie.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers
2016/17 Telkom KO, final CT City 2-1 SuperSport Ngoma, Moseamedi; Nkhatha

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA
CT City 1 1 0 0 2 1
SuperSport 1 0 0 1 1 2

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers
2016/17 CT City 1-1 SuperSport Manyama; Nkhatha
2016/17 SuperSport 4-2 CT City Mnyamane, Daniels, Brockie, Phala; Majoro, Manyama (pen)

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)

P W D L GF GA
CT City 3 1 1 1 5 6
SuperSport 3 1 1 1 6 5

WHAT THEY SAID

Cape Town City head coach Benni McCarthy

“It is a game of football, final, no final. We just want to continue what we have been doing which is work as hard as we can, play well, and obviously not make it easy for the opposition. Hopefully we can continue the good run that we are on and if we win… even better.

“They are very disciplined and organised and that is what Eric instilled in his players so it will be difficult. But, I think, we have played teams that are as organised and good so I am confident we can deal with that. We can take a lot from what we picked up in the Wits game because they are two teams that are similarly equipped. It will be an interesting and entertaining final.”

Cape Town City captain Robyn Johannes

“We are not a small club anymore and for the club it is amazing. We wanted to create our own bit of history and this is part of it, two finals in two years, and I am confident we will go all the way again for sure.”

SuperSport United head coach Eric Tinkler

“I got to two finals as a player when it was still known as the BP Top Eight [with Wits] and unfortunately lost it.

“I also lost a final at Orlando Pirates [as an assistant coach]. So this is a trophy I would like to win. The prize money [R8-million] is very, very good in this competition. There’s no sentiment when you’re a professional. It’s about winning.”

SuperSport United captain Dean Furman

“As SuperSport players we know that we are in this club to lift trophies. What a great opportunity we have on Saturday to do that within few a months after the start of the season. Last season we just fell short at the death in the league‚ while this time we want to change that.

“We were on top of the log for the two-thirds of last season. That’s what is motivating us this time around – we want to go all the way. There’s no point in patting ourselves on the back for being top in December or February. If we win on Saturday hopefully that can catapult us into a stronger league push than we had last season.”